Rights And Benefits

It’s very important that you get help and advice as soon as you know that you’re pregnant, to make sure that you know your rights and that you claim all the benefits to which you’re entitled. Benefits have to be claimed on different forms, from different offices, depending on what you are claiming. The benefit rates are accurate from April 2006.

Maternity rights are complex and sometimes change, so you should get further advice if you are unsure. There are many voluntary organisations that are happy to help, so don’t hesitate to ask for advice or get an opinion. See the box on where to get advice.

Where To Get Advice And Help

Working out what benefits and rights you are entitled to and making claims can be complicated. You can go to your local Jobcentre Plus for help (look in the business numbers section of the phone book under ‘Jobcentre Plus’).

Citizens Advice Bureaux, law centres and other advice agencies will also be able to advise you about your rights at work. To find your local advice agencies, look in your Yellow Pages phone book under ‘Counselling and Advice’. Some local authorities have welfare officers. Phone your social services department and ask. Some national voluntary organisations offer information and advice on benefits and rights at work, for example Acas and the National Council for One Parent Families (see pages 147 and 148).

If you are a member of a trades union, your staff representative or local office should be able to advise you on your maternity rights at work. The Equal Opportunities Commission can advise you if your problem is to do with sex discrimination (see page 147). The Health and Safety Executive have a useful booklet for women explaining the health and safety rights that apply to pregnant women and women who have recently given birth.

Some useful websites include:

www.dwp.gov.uk (Department for Work and Pensions)
www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits
www.hse.gov.uk (Health and Safety Executive)
www.eoc.org.uk (Equal Opportunities Commission)
www.dti.gov.uk/employment
www.adviceguide.org.uk (Citizens Advice Bureau)
www.csa.gov.uk (Child Support Agency)
www.acas.org.uk (Acas)
www.direct.gov.uk/employees
www.healthystart.nhs.uk

Material Source: The Pregnancy Book 2007

The information in this section was published in 2007, for more up-to-date information please use the relevant web site.